Kidnapped Cancelled?

Sparty99 · 10-05-2006, 09:08 AM

Just received an e-mail from Brilliant But Cancelled's Death Watch game that indicated that NBC has announced the cancellation of Kidnapped. Can't find a link yet.

KRS · 10-05-2006, 09:10 AM

Dang it - I enjoyed the first episode and was looking forward to catching up on the two stored on my hard drive. Hope it's not true.

terpfan1980 · 10-05-2006, 09:10 AM

I hope this is another "Happy Hour" case for them where they've jumped the gun and assumed the show was cancelled when it was instead put on hiatus or similar.

I am still liking Kidnapped an awful lot and want to see where it goes.

Bai Shen · 10-05-2006, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRS

Dang it - I enjoyed the first episode and was looking forward to catching up on the two stored on my hard drive. Hope it's not true.

+1

Although it will make it easier to record The Nine.

davezatz · 10-05-2006, 09:32 AM

They invested a ton of dough in this show... it's hard to believe it's already been cancelled. I haven't gotten to it yet, but it's patiently waiting on TiVo.

LoadStar · 10-05-2006, 09:47 AM

Tim Cuprisin, TV/Radio reporter for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, had this to say in today's column:

Quote:

It looks like NBC may end up as the winner of this season's cancellation sweepstakes. Although nothing's been announced, the network's "Kidnapped" appears doomed and could be the first new show to be euthanized.

The drama was in 67th place in the overall Nielsen rankings last week, so don't invest too much energy into it.

Austintatious · 10-05-2006, 10:04 AM

yesterday's AA column stated that:

Ausiello: Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I just got word that the show is essentially dead. Producers have been told to finish making 13 episodes, and then stop. On the bright side, another Reunion this is not. They had a contingency plan in place that lets them wrap up the mystery by then.

http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Co...o/default.aspx

So who knows if all 13 episodes make it on the air or not, but I've deleted the shows & season pass from my tivo unwatched.

davezatz · 10-05-2006, 10:18 AM

Wow, that surely is quick - especially for big bugdet and high profile. 13 episodes (if they all air) makes a nice mini-series though. If the don't air, do they sell the series on DVD?

bicker · 10-05-2006, 10:45 AM

Supposedly, they've committed to airing all the episodes.

DevdogAZ · 10-05-2006, 10:45 AM

I read somewhere that Smith is also getting pulled. Bummer about Kidnapped, but I didn't find the first two eps all that interesting.

KRS · 10-05-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devdogaz

I read somewhere that Smith is also getting pulled. Bummer about Kidnapped, but I didn't find the first two eps all that interesting.

Dang it again - I was really digging Smith as well. Lots of potential. Curse these snap decisions by the networks. Cancelling a show after only two or three episodes have aired is ridiculous.

I enjoy checking out all the new shows at the start of the season, but it is getting to the point where I might as well not even bother until the dust settles.

Bai Shen · 10-05-2006, 11:47 AM

I wonder why they pulled it so fast. After all, they promoted the heck out of it. It was in the previews for pretty much every movie I saw in theatres.

terpfan1980 · 10-05-2006, 11:53 AM

The sad fact is that the networks haven't figured out that they all are competing over a much smaller pie. I mentioned in a AIM chat with a friend the other nite that the networks are now competing against so many things that it's just crazy to not be somewhat pleased with the results that they are getting.

As an example, people, especially younger people, have video games; DVDs -- including DVDs of TV series from networks that they don't get (i.e., HBO's shows) -- of TV and movie content; friends and family commitments; sporting events; cable channels; music; time-shifted content; and much more.

The old days of getting 20 - 30% of the viewers in the country to tune in for a network show are gone. The networks should be happier that they are getting 10% of the full audience to tune in, and work on holding that amount and getting more through viral campaigns, etc.

It still seems that a lot of the network programmers are focusing on getting big ratings and are freaking because they don't. Because of that they cancel shows that go on to cult followings, and show almost no patience with others.

Who knows if the show that Heather Graham was in last season (cancelled after one episode) would have found an audience? It was cancelled before the ratings had really even come in. The numbers it drew will go on to be considered a hit in just a few season and the networks will cry about why they can't attract as many eyeballs as they used to be able to.

There's a lot of competition for people's free time, and they aren't worried any more about missing TV shows. The audience figures if the show is really good it'll last and they'll be able to pick it up later. True to some extent, but false also -- because without viewers along the way the networks and their itchy trigger fingers pull the plug on the shows because of the poor ratings.

It's a never ending cycle really, but it would certainly help some if the networks would show more patience, rather than less, and really give the viewers a chance to determine what is worth watching and what isn't.

drew2k · 10-05-2006, 11:56 AM

I hated Smith and canceled my season pass after the first episode, but I loved Kidnapped and will hate to see it go.

It's good news that at least that there will be some closure and a resolution to the case.

I'm recording a lot of shows right now so the other good thing for me is I can get back 42 minutes of my life each week ...

Sirius Black · 10-05-2006, 11:59 AM

This is why I am *so* glad the rumors of BSG moving to NBC were false. The show would have been canceled before the first episode even aired.

How can NBC even justify cancelling a show after 2 weeks? Were the ratings really that bad?

drew2k · 10-05-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdowell

The sad fact is that the networks haven't figured out that they all are competing over a much smaller pie. ...

I've watched a lot of pilots this year, and I just want to add one thing: I think the quality and production values of the new series are MUCH higher than in years past. The networks DO know they are competing so even if they're a little gun-shy with the ratings, IMO they are making every effort to put the best stuff out there. (With the exception of "Help Me Help You" and "Happy Hour", of course.

)

bqmeister · 10-05-2006, 12:18 PM

I liked Happy Hour. Couldn't get through help me help you though.

It seems like there's too many new good shows on now. I (and I imagine most people) just don't have time to watch all of them.
In years past, folks would pick one show on wednesdays at 9pm to watch. Even with VCRs, they weren't used as heavily as DVRs are nowadays.

Today, many people don't have to pick that one show on 1 network. I (and many others) can record all primetime shows every night. Just because I haven't seen kidnapped yet doesn't mean I don't plan to watch it (during a rerun week around thanksgiving for example). More folks nowadays are 'behind' on their tv viewing because DVRs makes it possible to catch up later. But those folks don't count in the ratings.

JMikeD · 10-05-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew2k

I hated Smith and canceled my season pass after the first episode, but I loved Kidnapped and will hate to see it go.

Ditto.

GadgetFreak · 10-05-2006, 12:23 PM

I like Kidnapped. But if they resolve the mystery in 13 episodes (and air all 13) then i have absoutely NO problem -- I wish more networks would develop contingency plans like that.

DLiquid · 10-05-2006, 12:39 PM

I really liked the premiere of Kidnapped but I was lukewarm about the second episode. I was planning to keep watching though. I agree if they wrap it up in 13 eps I would be fine with that.

Smith, I was bored to tears by the first episode and have the later episodes languishing on my TiVo.

LoadStar · 10-05-2006, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius Black

This is why I am *so* glad the rumors of BSG moving to NBC were false. The show would have been canceled before the first episode even aired.

How can NBC even justify cancelling a show after 2 weeks? Were the ratings really that bad?

Last week, Kidnapped got a 4.4 rating/7 share, which places it well last for the timeslot. I can't find exact numbers for the previous week, but I believe they were around 5.1 rating/8 share, also dead last.

Lori · 10-05-2006, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bqmeister

I liked Happy Hour. Couldn't get through help me help you though.

It seems like there's too many new good shows on now. I (and I imagine most people) just don't have time to watch all of them.
In years past, folks would pick one show on wednesdays at 9pm to watch. Even with VCRs, they weren't used as heavily as DVRs are nowadays.

Today, many people don't have to pick that one show on 1 network. I (and many others) can record all primetime shows every night. Just because I haven't seen kidnapped yet doesn't mean I don't plan to watch it (during a rerun week around thanksgiving for example). More folks nowadays are 'behind' on their tv viewing because DVRs makes it possible to catch up later. But those folks don't count in the ratings.

Considering that the Nielsen sample is ~5000 people, most people don't actually count.

It drives me bonkers that the fate of Veronica Mars essentially rests with 50 people.

MacThor · 10-05-2006, 12:52 PM

I think the networks realize that their numbers will be lower, but they won't accept a show getting clobbered by other network competition. Especially a seemingly expensive one.

This is a reason people care where a show is going.

Many critics were saying at the beginning of the season that most of these serialized dramas seemed better suited for a mini-series. How many red herrings can you throw out over 20 plus eps before viewers give up?

tivogurl · 10-05-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdowell

There's a lot of competition for people's free time, and they aren't worried any more about missing TV shows. The audience figures if the show is really good it'll last and they'll be able to pick it up later.

It's a vicious spiral then: viewers know the networks are quick to pull a show so they won't watch it, lowering the ratings, making the networks even quicker to pull a show. Network execs also appear ignorant regarding the concept of sunk costs. The episodes have already been produced and their costs paid. Nothing is lost by airing them; you certainly don't recoup those costs by not airing them.

bicker · 10-05-2006, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew2k

I've watched a lot of pilots this year, and I just want to add one thing: I think the quality and production values of the new series are MUCH higher than in years past. The networks DO know they are competing so even if they're a little gun-shy with the ratings, IMO they are making every effort to put the best stuff out there.

I agree completely. This is definitely the best year of television in a very long time.

I've read nothing credible about Smith being cancelled. I'm not worried too much about that, yet.

bicker · 10-05-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tivogurl

Network execs also appear ignorant regarding the concept of sunk costs. The episodes have already been produced and their costs paid. Nothing is lost by airing them; you certainly don't recoup those costs by not airing them.

However, you suffer opportunity costs by not airing some other program.

I did my Master's thesis on sunk costs, actually. The whole issue with "sunk costs" is that it is technically irrational to consider those costs when making your decision. That cuts both ways, so it is just as irrational to say, "We might as well air it since we already spent $X to produce it."

tivogurl · 10-05-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacThor

I think the networks realize that their numbers will be lower, but they won't accept a show getting clobbered by other network competition.

Which is why the networks are failing, IMO. Who cares if you get clobbered? Are the networks run to satisfy the ego of their executives, or the pocketbooks of their shareholders?

Quote:

Especially a seemingly expensive one.

Why is Kidnapped expensive? Shouldn't character dramas be cheap to produce? They certainly seem to be where movies are concerned; all the really big movie budgets seem to be animated or have lots of special effects.

KRS · 10-05-2006, 01:46 PM

I have only two words for networks that cancel after 2 or 3 episodes:

Sein Feld.

tivogurl · 10-05-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bicker

However, you suffer opportunity costs by not airing some other program.

Which generally involves a new set of unamortized startup costs, separate from production costs. That must run into a lot of dollars every year, which they could save with a slower trigger finger.

How often does any show get cancelled after 3 episodes and have its replacement do as well or better? My bet is "not often". My point is that the networks look like they're engaged in aimless thrashing about. Emphasis on "instant hit" and "being #1 in every timeslot" doesn't look like economically rational activity, it looks like executives satisfying their egos.

bicker · 10-05-2006, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tivogurl

Which generally involves a new set of unamortized startup costs, separate from production costs. That must run into a lot of dollars every year, which they could save with a slower trigger finger.

Yet that trigger finger could result in a Grey's Anatomy getting aired in time to build a following, and then go on to be a run-away hit. Also, keep in mind that as a show fails, the networks not only make very little money on it, but end up incurring obligations to advertisers for failing to deliver promised ratings.

Quote:

How often does any show get cancelled after 3 episodes and have its replacement do as well or better?

Often enough.

Quote:

My point is that the networks look like they're engaged in aimless thrashing about.

I greatly resent when someone outside my department presumes to make expert evaluations of the work of my department, without having the expertise, and most importantly the access to inside information that would be necessary to make such a judgement. We viewers are about three or four degrees separated from the network decision-makers in that regard, so our off-the-cuff responses to their decisions, especially when they're so obviously driven by what we personally like and don't like, carry no weight.